How to Pair Books and Reading With Science Experiments

A child who reads about a topic and then tries it gets two chances to understand. The book gives the big picture and the words; the experiment gives the experience. You do not need a special list of titles. Almost any decent library book on your topic will do. Here is how to combine them.

Choose the topic first

Start with something your child is curious about, such as plants, weather, magnets or the Moon. Visit your local library, or look at what is on your shelves. Ask a librarian for non-fiction and picture books about the topic. Choose books at the right reading level, and include a story book as well as an information book if you can.

Three ways to combine reading and doing

Read, then test. Read a short section about, say, how seeds grow. Ask your child to predict what would happen if a seed had no light. Then set up the test. Afterwards, go back to the book and check whether it agrees with what you saw.

Do, then read. Try the experiment first with no explanation. After a few days, read to find out why it behaved as it did. This works well for children who learn by experience and who might lose interest in a long explanation before they have seen anything happen.

Read aloud while working. For younger children, one adult can read a page while the child builds, pours or sorts. Keep it relaxed and stop whenever the child has a question.

Use books for different jobs

Not every book does the same thing:

Information books give facts and diagrams. Practise reading headings, captions and labels together.
Stories can make a topic feel real, such as a tale about a garden through the seasons.
Biographies show how people have asked questions and solved problems.
Activity books offer ideas, though check each idea for safety and supervise.

Ask good questions while reading

Try these:

“What is this page mostly about?”
“What does this picture show that the words do not?”
“Is there anything here that surprised you?”
“What could we test from this?”

Encourage your child to notice when a book states something and when it explains why.

Check what you read

Books can be out of date or wrong, and not every statement is equally reliable. Ask: “How do we know this is true? Could we check it?” Looking at a publication date, comparing two sources and testing a claim at home are simple ways to practise this. The How do you know a fact is true? lesson builds the idea step by step.

Record what you learn

After reading and trying, ask your child to draw or write one thing they found out, and one question they still have. Keep it in a notebook so you can look back. That second question often leads to the next book or experiment.

Make it a routine

A simple pattern is a library visit every couple of weeks, one topic book in the basket, and a short experiment each week. Let children choose some of the books. Choice builds enthusiasm.

When a child does not like reading

Some children avoid books but love doing things. Use short pieces: a single page, a caption, a diagram. Take turns reading, or read the book aloud yourself while they handle the materials. Audio versions can help, and so can reading a recipe or a set of instructions for the experiment itself, which is real reading with a real purpose. Over time the experiments can lead them toward the page, not away from it.

Where to go next

Our post on keeping a nature journal pairs well with reading. You might also try science notebooks for elementary students or the what does a seed need to grow lesson.